The Origin of the Rupa-tirtha and the Apsaras' Pool

Verse 1 (skanda.6.153.1)

सूत उवाच। तथान्यदपि तत्रास्ति रूपतीर्थमनुत्तमम् ॥ यत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यग्विरूपो रूपवान्भवेत्

sūta uvāca tathānyadapi tatrāsti rūpatīrthamanuttamam yatra snāto naraḥ samyagvirūpo rūpavānbhavet

Suta said: There is also another, most excellent Rupa-tirtha there, where a man, however ugly, becomes truly handsome after bathing.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.153.2)

पूर्वं भगवता तेन ब्रह्मणा लोक कर्तृणा ॥ सृष्टिं कृत्वा च विस्तीर्णां यथोक्तं च चतुर्विधाम्

pūrvaṁ bhagavatā tena brahmaṇā loka kartṛṇā sṛṣṭiṁ kṛtvā ca vistīrṇāṁ yathoktaṁ ca caturvidhām

Long ago, the Lord Brahma, maker of the worlds, having brought forth the vast creation of the fourfold kind as has been told —

Verse 3 (skanda.6.153.3)

ततः स चिन्तयामास रूपसंचयसंयुताम् । एकामप्सरसं दिव्यां देवमायां सृजाम्यहम्

tataḥ sa cintayāmāsa rūpasaṁcayasaṁyutām ekāmapsarasaṁ divyāṁ devamāyāṁ sṛjāmyaham

— then thought to himself: "I shall create a single divine apsaras, gathering into her every beauty, a very embodiment of divine illusion."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.153.4)

ततश्च सर्वदेवानां समादाय तिलंतिलम्॥ रूपं च निर्ममे पश्चादत्याश्चर्यमयीं च ताम्

tataśca sarvadevānāṁ samādāya tilaṁtilam rūpaṁ ca nirmame paścādatyāścaryamayīṁ ca tām

Then, taking a tiny portion of beauty from every god, he fashioned that woman, who was a very wonder to behold.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.153.5)

यां दृष्ट्वा क्षोभमापन्नः स्वयमेव पितामहः

yāṁ dṛṣṭvā kṣobhamāpannaḥ svayameva pitāmahaḥ

Beholding her, the grandfather (Brahma) himself was thrown into agitation.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.153.6)

ततस्तां प्रेषयामास कैलासं प्रति पद्मजः ॥ गच्छ देवि महादेवं प्रणमस्व शुचिस्मिते

tatastāṁ preṣayāmāsa kailāsaṁ prati padmajaḥ gaccha devi mahādevaṁ praṇamasva śucismite

Then the lotus-born one sent her toward Kailasa: "Go, O goddess, O sweetly-smiling one, and bow before Mahadeva."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.153.7)

ततः सा सत्वरं गत्वा कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम् ॥ अपश्यच्छंकरं तत्र निर्विष्टं पार्वतीसमम्

tataḥ sā satvaraṁ gatvā kailāsaṁ parvatottamam apaśyacchaṁkaraṁ tatra nirviṣṭaṁ pārvatīsamam

Then, going swiftly to that best of mountains, Kailasa, she beheld Shankara seated there together with Parvati.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.153.8)

शंकरोऽपि च तां दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः ॥ सुदृष्टां नाकरोद्भीत्या पार्श्वस्थां वीक्ष्य पार्वतीम्॥ ततः प्रदक्षिणां चक्रे सा प्रणम्य महेश्वरम् । श्रद्धया परया युक्ता कृतांजलिपुटा स्थिता

śaṁkaro'pi ca tāṁ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ sudṛṣṭāṁ nākarodbhītyā pārśvasthāṁ vīkṣya pārvatīm tataḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ cakre sā praṇamya maheśvaram śraddhayā parayā yuktā kṛtāṁjalipuṭā sthitā

Shankara too, seeing her, was struck with utter astonishment, but for fear of Parvati seated at his side, he did not let his gaze rest fully upon her. Then she circumambulated Maheshvara, bowed to him, and stood with joined palms, filled with the deepest reverence.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.153.9)

यावद्दक्षिणपार्श्वस्था तावद्वक्त्रं स दक्षिणम्॥ प्रचकार महादेवस्तदुपाकृष्टलोचनः

yāvaddakṣiṇapārśvasthā tāvadvaktraṁ sa dakṣiṇam pracakāra mahādevastadupākṛṣṭalocanaḥ

When she came to stand at his right side, then Mahadeva, his eyes drawn irresistibly to her, brought forth his southern (right) face.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.153.10)

पश्चिमायां यदा साऽभूत्प्रदक्षिणवशाच्छुभा ॥ पश्चिमं वदनं तेन तदर्थं च कृतं ततः

paścimāyāṁ yadā sā'bhūtpradakṣiṇavaśācchubhā paścimaṁ vadanaṁ tena tadarthaṁ ca kṛtaṁ tataḥ

When that auspicious one, in the course of her circumambulation, came to the west, then for that same purpose he brought forth a western face too.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.153.11)

एवमुत्तरसंस्थायां तस्यां देवेन शंभुना ॥ उत्तरं वदनं क्लृप्तं गौरीभीतेन चेतसा ॥ न ग्रीवां चालयामास कथंचिदपि स द्विजाः

evamuttarasaṁsthāyāṁ tasyāṁ devena śaṁbhunā uttaraṁ vadanaṁ klṛptaṁ gaurībhītena cetasā na grīvāṁ cālayāmāsa kathaṁcidapi sa dvijāḥ

O brahmins, in the same way, when she came to stand in the north, Shambhu — his heart afraid of Gauri — brought forth a northern face as well, but did not turn his neck in any way at all.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.153.12)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र नारदो मुनिपुंगवः॥ अब्रवीत्पार्वतीं पश्चात्प्रणिपत्य महेश्वरम्

etasminnaṁtare tatra nārado munipuṁgavaḥ abravītpārvatīṁ paścātpraṇipatya maheśvaram

Meanwhile, the foremost of sages, Narada, having first bowed to Maheshvara, then spoke to Parvati.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.153.13)

नारद उवाच। पश्य पार्वति ते पत्युश्चेष्टितं गर्हितं यथा ॥ दृष्ट्वा रूपवतीं नारीं कृतं। मुखचतुष्टयम्

nārada uvāca paśya pārvati te patyuśceṣṭitaṁ garhitaṁ yathā dṛṣṭvā rūpavatīṁ nārīṁ kṛtaṁ mukhacatuṣṭayam

Narada said: Look, O Parvati, how blameworthy is the conduct of your husband — merely on seeing a beautiful woman, he has made himself four faces.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.153.14)

अहमेतद्विजानामि न त्वया सदृशी क्वचित् ॥ अस्ति नारी तथाऽन्योपि विजानाति सुरेश्वरि

ahametadvijānāmi na tvayā sadṛśī kvacit asti nārī tathā'nyopi vijānāti sureśvari

O queen of the gods, I know full well that there is no woman anywhere equal to you, and others too know this.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.153.15)

हास्यस्य पदवीमद्य त्वं गमिष्यसि पार्वति ॥ सर्वासां देवपत्नीनां ज्ञात्वान्यासक्तमीश्वरम्

hāsyasya padavīmadya tvaṁ gamiṣyasi pārvati sarvāsāṁ devapatnīnāṁ jñātvānyāsaktamīśvaram

And yet, O Parvati, when all the wives of the gods learn that the Lord has become infatuated with another, today you shall become an object of ridicule among them all.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.153.16)

एतद्देवि विजानासि यादृक्चित्तं शिवोद्भवम् ॥ अस्या उपरि वेश्याया निंदिताया विचक्षणैः

etaddevi vijānāsi yādṛkcittaṁ śivodbhavam asyā upari veśyāyā niṁditāyā vicakṣaṇaiḥ

O goddess, understand this too — how Shiva's heart has become fixed upon this woman, condemned as a courtesan by the wise —

Verse 17 (skanda.6.153.17)

समादाय निजे हर्म्य एतां संस्थापयिष्यति ॥ परं लज्जासमोपेतो न ब्रवीति वचः शुभे

samādāya nije harmya etāṁ saṁsthāpayiṣyati paraṁ lajjāsamopeto na bravīti vacaḥ śubhe

— so much so that he means to take her and install her in his own palace; but, O auspicious one, out of shame he does not speak these words aloud.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.153.18)

सूत उवाच। नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा कांतं चतुर्मुखम् ॥ क्रोधेन महताविष्टा विकृतं वीक्ष्य तं हरम्

sūta uvāca nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā kāṁtaṁ caturmukham krodhena mahatāviṣṭā vikṛtaṁ vīkṣya taṁ haram

Suta said: Hearing Narada's words, and seeing her beloved's now fourfold face, and beholding Hara so transformed, she was overcome with immense wrath.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.153.19)

ततो निरोधया मास द्रुतं सा पर्वतात्मजा ॥ सर्वनेत्राणि देवस्य महिषीधर्ममाश्रिता

tato nirodhayā māsa drutaṁ sā parvatātmajā sarvanetrāṇi devasya mahiṣīdharmamāśritā

Then the daughter of the mountain, exercising her right as his queen, swiftly closed all the eyes of the god at once.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.153.20)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे शैला विशीर्यंति समंततः ॥ मर्यादां संत्यजंति स्म सर्वे च मकरालयाः

etasminnaṁtare śailā viśīryaṁti samaṁtataḥ maryādāṁ saṁtyajaṁti sma sarve ca makarālayāḥ

At once the mountains everywhere began to crumble, and all the oceans began to abandon their bounds.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.153.21)

प्रलयस्य समुत्थानं संजातं द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ तावद्ब्रह्मदिनं प्राप्तं परमं सृष्टिलक्षणम्

pralayasya samutthānaṁ saṁjātaṁ dvijasattamāḥ tāvadbrahmadinaṁ prāptaṁ paramaṁ sṛṣṭilakṣaṇam

O foremost of brahmins, the onset of cosmic dissolution began; in that same moment the great day of Brahma, marked by creation, came to its end.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.153.22)

निमेषेण पुनस्तस्य प्रलयस्य प्रजापतेः ॥ ब्रह्मणः सा निशा प्रोक्ता सर्वं तोयमयं भवेत्

nimeṣeṇa punastasya pralayasya prajāpateḥ brahmaṇaḥ sā niśā proktā sarvaṁ toyamayaṁ bhavet

That very moment of dissolution was, for Prajapati Brahma, called his "night" — a mere blink of his eye — in which all becomes one expanse of water.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.153.23)

अथ तत्र गणाः सर्वे भृगिनंदिपुरःसराः ॥ सोऽपि देवमुनिर्भीतस्तामुवाच सुरेश्वरीम्

atha tatra gaṇāḥ sarve bhṛginaṁdipuraḥsarāḥ so'pi devamunirbhītastāmuvāca sureśvarīm

Then all the ganas there, with Bhringi and Nandi at their head, grew afraid; and that divine sage too, in fear, spoke to the queen of the gods.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.153.24)

मुंचमुंच सुरज्येष्ठे देवनेत्राणि संप्रति ॥ नोचेन्नाशः समस्तस्य लोकस्यास्य भविष्यति

muṁcamuṁca surajyeṣṭhe devanetrāṇi saṁprati nocennāśaḥ samastasya lokasyāsya bhaviṣyati

"O foremost of goddesses, release, release the god's eyes at once — otherwise this entire world will be destroyed."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.153.25)

एवं प्रोक्ताऽपि सा देवी यावच्च न मुमोच तम् ॥ तावद्देवेन लालाटं विसृष्टं लोचनं परम्

evaṁ proktā'pi sā devī yāvacca na mumoca tam tāvaddevena lālāṭaṁ visṛṣṭaṁ locanaṁ param

Though thus entreated, so long as the goddess did not release him, the god brought forth upon his forehead yet another, supreme eye.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.153.26)

कृपाविष्टेन लोकानां येन रक्षा प्रजायते ॥ न शक्तो वारितुं देवीं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्

kṛpāviṣṭena lokānāṁ yena rakṣā prajāyate na śakto vārituṁ devīṁ prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasīm

Filled with compassion by which the worlds are protected, and yet unable to restrain the goddess who was dearer to him than his own life, he did this.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.153.27)

अंबिकां विबुधाः प्राहुस्त्र्यंबकाणि यतो द्विजाः ॥ तस्मात्संकीर्त्यते लोके त्र्यंबकश्च सुरेश्वरः

aṁbikāṁ vibudhāḥ prāhustryaṁbakāṇi yato dvijāḥ tasmātsaṁkīrtyate loke tryaṁbakaśca sureśvaraḥ

O brahmins, because of this the wise call Ambika "Tryambaka" (three-eyed); therefore the lord of the gods too is celebrated in the world as Tryambaka.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.153.28)

ततः संत्यज्य तं देवं देवी पर्वतपुत्रिका ॥ प्रोवाच कोपरक्ताक्षी पुरःस्थां तां तिलोत्तमाम्

tataḥ saṁtyajya taṁ devaṁ devī parvataputrikā provāca koparaktākṣī puraḥsthāṁ tāṁ tilottamām

Then, letting go of the god, the mountain's daughter, her eyes red with anger, spoke to Tilottama who stood before her.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.153.29)

यस्मान्मे दयितः पापे त्वया रूपाद्विडंबितः ॥ चतुर्वक्त्रः कृतस्तस्मात्त्वं विरूपा भव द्रुतम्

yasmānme dayitaḥ pāpe tvayā rūpādviḍaṁbitaḥ caturvaktraḥ kṛtastasmāttvaṁ virūpā bhava drutam

"Since, O sinful one, by your beauty you have beguiled my beloved and made him four-faced, therefore become ugly at once."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.153.30)

ततः सा सहसा भूत्वा तत्क्षणाद्भग्ननासिका ॥ शीर्णकेशा बृहद्दंता चिपिटाक्षी महोदरा

tataḥ sā sahasā bhūtvā tatkṣaṇādbhagnanāsikā śīrṇakeśā bṛhaddaṁtā cipiṭākṣī mahodarā

Then in that instant she suddenly became one with a broken nose, withered hair, huge teeth, flattened eyes, and a swollen belly.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.153.31)

अथ वीक्ष्य निजं देहं तथाभूतं वराप्सराः ॥ प्रोवाच वेपमाना सा कृतांजलिपुटा स्थिता

atha vīkṣya nijaṁ dehaṁ tathābhūtaṁ varāpsarāḥ provāca vepamānā sā kṛtāṁjalipuṭā sthitā

Then, seeing her own body reduced to that state, that excellent apsaras, trembling, stood with joined palms and spoke.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.153.32)

अहं संप्रेषिता देवि प्रणामार्थं त्रिशूलिनः ॥ ब्रह्मणा तेन चायाता युष्माकं च विशेषतः

ahaṁ saṁpreṣitā devi praṇāmārthaṁ triśūlinaḥ brahmaṇā tena cāyātā yuṣmākaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

"O goddess, I was sent by Brahma to bow before the trident-bearer, and I had come especially for your sake as well.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.153.33)

निर्दोषाया विरागायास्तस्माद्युक्तं न ते भवेत् ॥ शापं दातुं प्रसादं मे तस्मात्त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि

nirdoṣāyā virāgāyāstasmādyuktaṁ na te bhavet śāpaṁ dātuṁ prasādaṁ me tasmāttvaṁ kartumarhasi

I am innocent and free of any such desire; therefore it is not right for you to have cursed me — hence you should show me your grace."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.153.34)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दीनं सत्यं च पार्वती ॥ पश्चात्तापसमोपेता ततः प्रोवाच सुप्रियम्

tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā dīnaṁ satyaṁ ca pārvatī paścāttāpasamopetā tataḥ provāca supriyam

Hearing her pitiful and truthful words, Parvati was filled with remorse, and then spoke to her kindly.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.153.35)

स्त्रीस्वभावात्समायातः कोपोऽयं त्वां प्रति द्रुतम् ॥ तस्मादागच्छ गच्छावो मया सार्धं धरातले

strīsvabhāvātsamāyātaḥ kopo'yaṁ tvāṁ prati drutam tasmādāgaccha gacchāvo mayā sārdhaṁ dharātale

"It was only from a woman's nature that this anger arose against you so suddenly; therefore come, let us go together down to the earth.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.153.36)

तत्रास्ति रूपदं तीर्थं मया चोत्पादितं स्वयम् ॥ माघशुक्लतृतीयायां स्नानार्थं विमलोदकम्

tatrāsti rūpadaṁ tīrthaṁ mayā cotpāditaṁ svayam māghaśuklatṛtīyāyāṁ snānārthaṁ vimalodakam

There is a beauty-bestowing tirtha there, itself brought into being by me, whose pure water is for bathing on the third day of the bright half of Magha.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.153.37)

या नारी प्रातरुत्थाय तत्र स्नानं समाचरेत् ॥ सा स्याद्रूपवती नूनमदृष्टे रविमंडले

yā nārī prātarutthāya tatra snānaṁ samācaret sā syādrūpavatī nūnamadṛṣṭe ravimaṁḍale

Whatever woman rises early and bathes there before the sun's disc has risen shall surely become beautiful.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.153.38)

सदा माघे तृतीयायां तत्र स्नानं करोम्यहम् ॥ अद्य सा तत्र यास्यामि स्नानाय कृतनिश्चया

sadā māghe tṛtīyāyāṁ tatra snānaṁ karomyaham adya sā tatra yāsyāmi snānāya kṛtaniścayā

I myself always bathe there on the third of Magha; today, resolved on this, I too shall go there to bathe."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.153.39)

सूत उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा समादाय सा देवी तां तिलोत्तमाम् ॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे रूपतीर्थं जगाम च

sūta uvāca evamuktvā samādāya sā devī tāṁ tilottamām hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre rūpatīrthaṁ jagāma ca

Suta said: So saying, the goddess took Tilottama with her and went to the Rupa-tirtha in the field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.153.40)

तत्र स्नानं स्वयं चक्रे विधिपूर्वं सुरेश्वरी ॥ तस्या ह्यनन्तरं सापि भक्तियुक्ता तिलोत्तमा

tatra snānaṁ svayaṁ cakre vidhipūrvaṁ sureśvarī tasyā hyanantaraṁ sāpi bhaktiyuktā tilottamā

There the queen of the gods herself bathed according to the proper rite, and after her, Tilottama too, filled with devotion, bathed as well.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.153.41)

ततः कांतिमती जाता तत्क्षणादेव भामिनी ॥ पूर्वमासीयद्थारूपा तथासाऽभूद्विशेषतः

tataḥ kāṁtimatī jātā tatkṣaṇādeva bhāminī pūrvamāsīyadthārūpā tathāsā'bhūdviśeṣataḥ

Then that lovely woman at once became radiant, and she became again, in particular, exactly as beautiful as she had been before.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.153.42)

अथ तुष्टिसमायुक्ता तां प्रणम्य सुरेश्वरीम् ॥ प्रोवाच विस्मयाविष्टा हर्षगद्गदया गिरा

atha tuṣṭisamāyuktā tāṁ praṇamya sureśvarīm provāca vismayāviṣṭā harṣagadgadayā girā

Then, filled with contentment, she bowed to the queen of the gods and, overcome with wonder, spoke in a voice choked with joy.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.153.43)

प्राप्तं रूपं महादेवि त्वत्प्रसादाच्चिरन्तनम्॥ ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यामि मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि

prāptaṁ rūpaṁ mahādevi tvatprasādāccirantanam brahmalokaṁ gamiṣyāmi māmanujñātumarhasi

"O great goddess, by your grace I have regained my former beauty. Now I shall go to the world of Brahma; you should grant me leave."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.153.44)

गौर्युवाच। वरं यच्छामि ते पुत्रि यत्किंचिद्धृदि संस्थितम्॥ तस्मात्प्रार्थय विश्रब्धा न वृथा मम दर्शनम्

gauryuvāca varaṁ yacchāmi te putri yatkiṁciddhṛdi saṁsthitam tasmātprārthaya viśrabdhā na vṛthā mama darśanam

Gauri said: O daughter, whatever is in your heart, I shall grant it to you as a boon; therefore ask freely — let not the sight of me go in vain.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.153.45)

तिलोत्तमोवाच। अहमत्र करिष्यामि क्षेत्रे तीर्थं निजं शुभे ॥ त्वत्प्रसादेन तद्देवि यातु ख्यातिं धरातले

tilottamovāca ahamatra kariṣyāmi kṣetre tīrthaṁ nijaṁ śubhe tvatprasādena taddevi yātu khyātiṁ dharātale

Tilottama said: O auspicious one, I shall make my own tirtha here in this very field; O goddess, by your grace may it attain renown upon the earth.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.153.46)

त्वया तत्रापि कर्तव्यं वर्षांते स्नानमेव हि ॥ हितार्थं सर्वनारीणां रूपसौभाग्यदायकम्

tvayā tatrāpi kartavyaṁ varṣāṁte snānameva hi hitārthaṁ sarvanārīṇāṁ rūpasaubhāgyadāyakam

There too, for the welfare of all women, a bath granting beauty and good fortune should be performed by you at the end of the year.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.153.47)

गौर्युवाच। चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां सदाहं त्वत्कृते शुभे ॥ स्नानं तत्र करिष्यामि मध्याह्ने समुपस्थिते

gauryuvāca caitraśuklatṛtīyāyāṁ sadāhaṁ tvatkṛte śubhe snānaṁ tatra kariṣyāmi madhyāhne samupasthite

Gauri said: O auspicious one, on the third day of the bright half of Chaitra, for your sake, when midday arrives, I shall always bathe there.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.153.48)

हितार्थं सर्वनारीणां तव वाक्यादसंशयम् ॥ या तत्र दिवसे नारी तस्मिंस्तीर्थे करिष्यति

hitārthaṁ sarvanārīṇāṁ tava vākyādasaṁśayam yā tatra divase nārī tasmiṁstīrthe kariṣyati

In accordance with your word, this shall without doubt be for the welfare of all women. Whatever woman shall bathe in that tirtha on that day —

Verse 49 (skanda.6.153.49)

स्नानं सा सौख्यसंयुक्ता भविष्यति सुखान्विता ॥ स्पृहणीया च नारीणां सर्वासां धरणीतले

snānaṁ sā saukhyasaṁyuktā bhaviṣyati sukhānvitā spṛhaṇīyā ca nārīṇāṁ sarvāsāṁ dharaṇītale

— she shall become endowed with joy and happiness, and become an object of envy to all women upon the earth.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.153.50)

पुरुषोऽपि सुभक्त्या यस्तत्र स्नानं करिष्यति ॥ सप्तजन्मानि रूपाढ्यः ससौभाग्यो भविष्यति

puruṣo'pi subhaktyā yastatra snānaṁ kariṣyati saptajanmāni rūpāḍhyaḥ sasaubhāgyo bhaviṣyati

And any man too who bathes there with true devotion shall remain endowed with beauty and good fortune for seven births.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.153.51)

सूत उवाच। एवमुक्ता तदा देव्या साप्सरा द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ चक्रे कुण्डं सुविस्तीर्णं विमलोदप्रपूरितम्

sūta uvāca evamuktā tadā devyā sāpsarā dvijasattamāḥ cakre kuṇḍaṁ suvistīrṇaṁ vimalodaprapūritam

Suta said: O foremost of brahmins, when the goddess had thus spoken, that apsaras made there a vast tank filled with pure water.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.153.52)

उपकंठे ततस्तस्य स्थापयामास पार्वतीम् ॥ ततो जगाम संहृष्टा ब्रह्मलोकं तिलोत्तमा

upakaṁṭhe tatastasya sthāpayāmāsa pārvatīm tato jagāma saṁhṛṣṭā brahmalokaṁ tilottamā

Then, upon its bank, she established (an image of) Parvati; and thereafter Tilottama, greatly rejoicing, went to the world of Brahma.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.153.53)

ततः प्रभृति संजातं कुण्डमप्सरसा कृतम् ॥ स्नानमात्रैर्नरैर्यत्र सौभाग्यं लभ्यते द्विजाः

tataḥ prabhṛti saṁjātaṁ kuṇḍamapsarasā kṛtam snānamātrairnarairyatra saubhāgyaṁ labhyate dvijāḥ

O brahmins, from that time onward this tank made by the apsaras became renowned, where men obtain good fortune simply by bathing.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.153.54)

नारीभिश्च विशेषेण पुत्रप्राप्तिरनुत्तमा ॥ तथान्यदपि यत्किंचिद्वांछितं हृदये स्थितम्

nārībhiśca viśeṣeṇa putraprāptiranuttamā tathānyadapi yatkiṁcidvāṁchitaṁ hṛdaye sthitam

And women in particular obtain the excellent gift of sons, and likewise whatever other desire lies in the heart is also fulfilled.